Boy saved at Van Riebeek Strand

At 16h26 on Saturday NSRI Melkbosstrand were called out for a boy swept out to sea on a boogy board at Van Riebeek Strand, between Duinefontein and Melkbosstrand.

A local resident, Juanita van Zyl, had noticed the 11 year old boy, from Four Ways in Johannesburg being swept out to sea and she called her NSRI volunteer friend, Manie Fourie, who lives in the area.
The boogie boarders brother was also running from the beach to go to get help but their child minder was under the impression that the boys were only playing.

Manie raced to the scene, after alerting his colleagues at NSRI Melkbosstrand who prepared to launch a sea rescue craft.

On reaching the scene Manie drove his 4×4 vehicle onto the beach and dived in, swimming approximately 250 to 300 metres out to sea, using a rip-current to speed up his efforts to reach the child. He calmed the child down.
Manie then began swimming him towards shore, making sure to keep free of the rip-currents, which are strong and frequent along that part of the coast.

Manie managed to get the child safely ashore and Manie and fellow NSRI Melkbosstrand medics checked the child out but with his lungs clear and no sign of any immediate medical danger the child was released, into the care of his very grateful mom.

This incident happened so quickly, and thanks to the speedy efforts of Manie, was over so fast that a police vehicle arrived on-scene not aware that a rescue operation was in progress and were in fact reacting to a complaint, from a local resident, of a 4×4 vehicle driving on the beach.